Family Friendly?

akarmenia1 · 07-29-2008

I have a big extended family and we are heading to Playa next summer. We are looking for a nice, big, fun hotel that would be appropriate for children and teens. We're not so prudish that the sight of anyone drinking a margarita is going to scare us, but we would prefer something that is geared to families, has kids clubs, and that sort of thing. A nice beach is important, as well.

There are SO many hotels, we have no idea where to start!

clfsean · 07-29-2008

The Riu complex of hotels at the Playacar area has some good stuff for kids of all ages. We got back in June from a week at the Riu Tequila & my girls (5 & 7) spent everyday at the kid's club & each night with the friends they made there. Plenty to do to keep them busy in the day, but not away from you & miss out for the vacation together.

CasiBK · 07-29-2008

I can say the same about the Grand Riviera/Sunset Princess Resort in the Riviera Maya. The Kids Club was great ad they have stuf for teens as well. However, the beach is a little rocky in places. They are working on it but maybe not by the time you get there.

Good luck in your search!

Eileencc · 07-29-2008

Check out the Iberostars (Tucan/Qetzal or Lindo/Maya) or Barcelo Maya. All cater to families--the BM has one of the nicest beaches around but is further away from the town of Playa, making it a little more complicated to get in for shopping or socializing in town.

akarmenia1 · 07-29-2008

Thanks for al lthe replies. Keep them coming. I've spoken with an agent who strongly suggested Iberostar. I'm leaning towards there. Any reason i shouldn't?

Eileencc · 07-29-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by akarmenia1

Thanks for al lthe replies. Keep them coming. I've spoken with an agent who strongly suggested Iberostar. I'm leaning towards there. Any reason i shouldn't?

If you are looking for a gorgeous beach, the beaches in Playacar are having some issues right now with beach erosion. There are many threads on this site devoted to the situation. In my personal experience, I've found the Iberostars to be top notch places. The warmth and friendliness of the staff are hard to beat. There's lots to do for grownups and kids.

bearcat · 07-29-2008

I will second the recommendation of the Barcelo. We recently stayed at the Barcelo Maya Palace, which just opened in December, and it was great. Great beach with snorkeling, amazing pools and a large kids water park. It is worth a look.

Eileencc · 07-29-2008

I'll be able to offer my comparison of the IBs and the BM in a few weeks...I'm heading to the Barcelo Maya in 12 days with my family. We're not hard to please, but the beach has to be very nice, because that's where we will spend most of our time.

bearcat · 07-29-2008

Quote:

I'll be able to offer my comparison of the IBs and the BM in a few weeks...I'm heading to the Barcelo Maya in 12 days with my family. We're not hard to please, but the beach has to be very nice, because that's where we will spend most of our time.

Which Barcelo are you staying in? Their beach, which is 2 miles long, is one of the best I have seen outside of Akumal and Tulum.

Tarris · 07-29-2008

I've not been but next time I take the kids back it will be the Barcelo complex...the pretty "water park" pictures are just too tempting.

**Shammy** · 07-29-2008

Definitely check out the Barcelo complex (3 different sections). With two kids water parks, two kid's clubs and a fantastic beach, it should work well for you.

mrcool138 · 07-30-2008

Our family was at the Barcelo Maya Tropical the first of June of this year. We really enjoyed it. Our kids(11,8 and 4) loved it, and are still talking about it, also asking when are we going back. The beach is great, pools awesome and the staff seems to really like the kids.

JWK · 07-30-2008

We loved the IB Lindo and have stayed there twice as a family, thought nothing could top that for us. We just returned from the Barcelo Palace on the 14th and thought that it was the absolutely best AI we have ever stayed Service was excellent, food good, plenty to do for our two boys with the waterpark and gaming area near the beach. Oh, and the most beautiful beach in the Riviera Maya is at the Barcelo. We loved the orientation of the beach and pool, it made it easy for us to go back and forth from the beach and pool without packing up and moving our things.
Rooms were beautiful and we were able to have a king bed. There are 2 sofas in the room that can be made up into twin beds for our boys and it worked out wonderfully, we had plenty of room for the 4 of us.
I don't think you'll go wrong with either but my vote goes to the Barcelo.

Eileencc · 07-30-2008

We're staying at the Tropical/Colonial section...I love hearing good reviews like JWK's about the Barcelo!

akarmenia1 · 07-31-2008

So the Playacar's beach is under construction or something? Is the Barcelo around there? How far is it away from PDC? What about the Iberostar?

I look forward to the comparison between the two.

07-29-2008	#1 (permalink)
akarmenia1 sandflea Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 9	Family Friendly? I have a big extended family and we are heading to Playa next summer. We are looking for a nice, big, fun hotel that would be appropriate for children and teens. We're not so prudish that the sight of anyone drinking a margarita is going to scare us, but we would prefer something that is geared to families, has kids clubs, and that sort of thing. A nice beach is important, as well. There are SO many hotels, we have no idea where to start!

07-29-2008	#3 (permalink)
CasiBK lost on fifth Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Burlington Twp., NJ Posts: 16	Grand Riviera Princess I can say the same about the Grand Riviera/Sunset Princess Resort in the Riviera Maya. The Kids Club was great ad they have stuf for teens as well. However, the beach is a little rocky in places. They are working on it but maybe not by the time you get there. Good luck in your search!

07-29-2008	#5 (permalink)
akarmenia1 sandflea Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 9	Iberostar Thanks for al lthe replies. Keep them coming. I've spoken with an agent who strongly suggested Iberostar. I'm leaning towards there. Any reason i shouldn't?

07-31-2008	#15 (permalink)
akarmenia1 sandflea Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 9	For families? Beach under construction? So the Playacar's beach is under construction or something? Is the Barcelo around there? How far is it away from PDC? What about the Iberostar? I look forward to the comparison between the two.

07-29-2008	#2 (permalink)
clfsean into ruins Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Metro Atlanta Posts: 79	The Riu complex of hotels at the Playacar area has some good stuff for kids of all ages. We got back in June from a week at the Riu Tequila & my girls (5 & 7) spent everyday at the kid's club & each night with the friends they made there. Plenty to do to keep them busy in the day, but not away from you & miss out for the vacation together.

07-29-2008	#4 (permalink)
Eileencc añejo Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North of Boston, Mass Posts: 7,354	Check out the Iberostars (Tucan/Qetzal or Lindo/Maya) or Barcelo Maya. All cater to families--the BM has one of the nicest beaches around but is further away from the town of Playa, making it a little more complicated to get in for shopping or socializing in town.

07-29-2008	#7 (permalink)
bearcat añejo Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,054	I will second the recommendation of the Barcelo. We recently stayed at the Barcelo Maya Palace, which just opened in December, and it was great. Great beach with snorkeling, amazing pools and a large kids water park. It is worth a look.

07-29-2008	#8 (permalink)
Eileencc añejo Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North of Boston, Mass Posts: 7,354	I'll be able to offer my comparison of the IBs and the BM in a few weeks...I'm heading to the Barcelo Maya in 12 days with my family. We're not hard to please, but the beach has to be very nice, because that's where we will spend most of our time.

07-29-2008	#10 (permalink)
Tarris toe in water Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 44	I've not been but next time I take the kids back it will be the Barcelo complex...the pretty "water park" pictures are just too tempting.

07-29-2008	#11 (permalink)
Shammy Travel Insurance Tester Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Joisey Shore Posts: 17,467	Definitely check out the Barcelo complex (3 different sections). With two kids water parks, two kid's clubs and a fantastic beach, it should work well for you.

07-30-2008	#12 (permalink)
mrcool138 beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: indiana Posts: 251	Our family was at the Barcelo Maya Tropical the first of June of this year. We really enjoyed it. Our kids(11,8 and 4) loved it, and are still talking about it, also asking when are we going back. The beach is great, pools awesome and the staff seems to really like the kids.

07-30-2008	#13 (permalink)
JWK way into it Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 162	We loved the IB Lindo and have stayed there twice as a family, thought nothing could top that for us. We just returned from the Barcelo Palace on the 14th and thought that it was the absolutely best AI we have ever stayed Service was excellent, food good, plenty to do for our two boys with the waterpark and gaming area near the beach. Oh, and the most beautiful beach in the Riviera Maya is at the Barcelo. We loved the orientation of the beach and pool, it made it easy for us to go back and forth from the beach and pool without packing up and moving our things. Rooms were beautiful and we were able to have a king bed. There are 2 sofas in the room that can be made up into twin beds for our boys and it worked out wonderfully, we had plenty of room for the 4 of us. I don't think you'll go wrong with either but my vote goes to the Barcelo.

07-30-2008	#14 (permalink)
Eileencc añejo Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North of Boston, Mass Posts: 7,354	We're staying at the Tropical/Colonial section...I love hearing good reviews like JWK's about the Barcelo!

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